Thursday, 20 August 2015

Festival Series | Part 1

While I may be bit late to the party with my festival tips, festival season isn't over yet here in the U.K with Leeds & Reading Festival approaching. The likes of The Libertines, Mumford & Sons and Metallica will be taking the stage. I thought I would share some of my festival tips with you!

I first attended Leeds Festivalwhen I was 15. I wasn't supposed to be going but managed to arrange tickets, getting down there and camping gear with my friends, rebels. It was the best weekend of my life. Highlights being: stumbling into my first mosh pits, crowd surfing over the front barriers at the main stage during Bloc Party and watching Arctic Monkeys play live for the first time! Leeds Fest '09 started my festival obsession. Since then I have attended a few festivals in my teenage years and i've even attended Isle Of Wight Festival as a VIP twice, so I thought I would share some tips with you campers!

Only Take What You Can Carry

My friends and I are petite, so we always got away with camping in small pop up tents. These are great as they fold away into a circle pack that you can wear as a rucksack on your back, leaving your hands free to carry other bits and bobs! Only pack essentials, do you really need 2 pairs of shoes, when all you're really going to be wearing are wellies. Of course you will be packing a sleeping bag but don't forget to pack a pillow and roll mat. I know it will be annoying to carry, but you will appreciate it so much more than a rolled up pair of jeans on rocky ground.

Prepare For All Weathers

While we all admire beautiful festival fashionistas in glossy magazines, remeber these are often shot at festivals such as Coachella. Pack a jumper + waterproof jacket, we are in England and it most probably will rain! Wellies are a must to all British festivals. Things are gon' get muddy! I would recommend packing 2 jumpers as there is nothing worse than keeping the same wet, soggy jumper on all day because you have nothing else warm to change into.

Where To Save & Where To Spend

Festival food is hella expensive. Pack snacks such as cereal bars to munch on in the morning, this way you can save yourself about a tenner a day on breakfast. Even if you don't normally eat breakfast, I guarantee you will after a night of drinking and kipping in a cold tent. I wouldn't reccomend packing all your food as a) it would be impossible to carry and b) when it's wet and miserable, a hot meal will do you the world of good. Always pre-purchase alcohol at a local supermarket as festival alcohol is ridiculously expensive! Remember to avoid glass (transfer into plastic bottles or hip flasks.) Don't forget a bottle for water, taps are often available on site so you can keep refilling and stay hydrated! I would advise taking around £200 for a 5 day camping festival, as you would rather come back with cash than go hungry.

Phone/Pictures & Staying Safe

I would advise leaving smart phones and digital cameras at home. Bring and old pay as you go phone. But don't forget to put some credit on and add your friends digits. The battery lasts so much longer and you want risk loosing your beloved iPhone. Also pack a disposable camera or two, I love the vintage look they give to photos and you never know what you might develop after your weekend! Unfortunately there are some people out there that have to ruin it for the rest of us. Keep valuables on you at all times, even when you are in your tent. A little trick I used to do, would be to keep cash in a plastic coins bag and stick it down my wellies, that way I would't have to worry about watching my bag during bands!

I hope my tips have helped. I will also be doing a part 2 & 3 for this festival series, including beauty and style. I will be attending Leeds Fest on Saturday (29th August) as I only have a day ticket this year. I am most looking forward to seeing Mumford & Sons and Panic! At The Disco! Who are you looking forward to seeing?